Petfinder » Grants that changed liveshttps://www.petfinder.com
Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on PetfinderFri, 31 Jul 2015 11:30:51 +0000en-UShourly1Saving Roxy the stray and her puppieshttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-roxy-the-stray-and-her-puppies/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-roxy-the-stray-and-her-puppies/#commentsSat, 23 Nov 2013 12:00:32 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28781Staff members from Ponca City Humane Society in Oklahoma have saved a stray Catahoula mix named Roxy and her puppies, thanks to an Orvis grant from the Petfinder Foundation. We received this grant report from Executive Director Patricia Amador: “We were contacted back in the beginning of March of this …

We received this grant report from Executive Director Patricia Amador:

“We were contacted back in the beginning of March of this year by an individual who had found a stray who had had puppies behind our local skate park. We at that time did not have room to take the stray and her puppies in, but we were able to secure the person who found them to keep them on a temporary basis as a foster.

“She was able to house them but began to inform us that her neighbor was trying to take the mother dog, now named Roxy. Roxy sadly was stolen from the foster’s yard on March 17. Her puppies, who were still nursing, where found scattered in the driveway of the home. Luckily, the foster was able to locate all eight puppies. We scrambled for fosters and were able to find two that were willing to take the puppies in. They were fostered for roughly two weeks and returned to our facility. Roxy was eventually found at our local animal control and we were able to reclaim her from there.

“The puppies, unfortunately, had been exposed to parvovirus, although only five came down with the disease. All were admitted into our local vet and aggressive treatment was started. Sadly, we lost three of the female puppies. We were saddened that even with aggressive treatment we were unable to save them all.

“The remaining puppies recovered well and the first puppy from that litter, Disco, was adopted on March 8. The second, Buster, was adopted on March 10. Disco went home with a lovely young lady, while Buster, now named Ace, was adopted by a father, son and daughter team. We wish them all the best in their new homes.”

Roxy’s remaining puppies — including Hank, Pepper and Linus — have all been adopted, too, but Roxy is still waiting.

Amador thanked Orvis and the Petfinder Foundation for the life-saving help: “We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill small humane society that does not receive any government funding and relies on the good will and generosity of individuals, corporations, and adopters and donors to keep us going.”

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-roxy-the-stray-and-her-puppies/feed/0Saving-Roxy-Stray-Dog-OK51-25712853Roxy is still waiting to be adopted. (Photo credit: Ponca City Humane Society)Adopted Dog BibleThe old rules don't always apply to adopted dogs, whose training, past behaviors and health histories may be a mystery. At last, here's the one-stop guide that acknowledges their special needs and covers every detail of daily life.Saving-Roxy-Stray-Dog-OK51-26104993Hank (Photo credit: Ponca City Humane Society)donate.jpgA Maltipoo is thrown over a shelter fence – and saved!https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/a-maltipoo-is-thrown-over-a-shelter-fence-and-saved/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/a-maltipoo-is-thrown-over-a-shelter-fence-and-saved/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2013 12:00:40 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28823When Tippy the Maltese/Poodle mix was thrown over a 6-foot-high shelter fence onto concrete, an Orvis grant from the Petfinder Foundation arrived right in time for k9.5 Rescue of Greenville, S.C., to save her life. “She was literally on the verge of death, with a heart rate of 36,” k9.5 …

“She was literally on the verge of death, with a heart rate of 36,” k9.5 President Allison Rathert tells us. “During a period when we only had a few hundred dollars in the bank and an emergency-room fund that was soon to be maxed out as a result of Tippy’s visit, the $1,000 grant allowed us to cover a life-threatening crash and do what we needed to do to save her.”

The 2-year-old dog’s left hip was completely out of its socket, and she suffered nerve damage, too, Rathert says. Tippy spent three days in critical care. Veterinarians also diagnosed her with Addison’s disease, an adrenal condition that affects dogs like Tippy for life.

Despite her acute injuries, chronic condition and the past abuse she suffered, Tippy was cheerful, affectionate and friendly. After three days in the hospital, she entered a foster home for an extended recovery and is up for adoption (learn about adopting Tippy here).

Now that his eye has healed, Bryson is available for adoption. (Photo credit: k9.5 Rescue)

“Tippy is currently doing remarkably well and responding to her medication,” Rathert says. “She is back to her feisty, active and joyful self.”

After paying for Tippy’s care, k9.5 still had $200 in grant funds remaining. Rathert says she put that money toward medical treatment for Bryson, a 2½-year-old Great Pyrenees suffering from entropion. The painful eye condition caused Bryson’s lower eyelid to curl inward and scratch his cornea.

“Bryson has recovered successfully and his eye looks fantastic,” Rathert says. “He has not squinted or had drainage since.”

We’re proud that our grant allowed k9.5 to help these two beautiful dogs.

“The joy and immense relief that flooded me upon opening the envelope simply cannot be described accurately,” Rathert says. “It was literally a lifesaver.”

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/a-maltipoo-is-thrown-over-a-shelter-fence-and-saved/feed/0Maltipoo-is-thrown-dog-SC298Tippy is waiting to be adopted. (Photo credit: k9.5 Rescue)What’s That Smell? Tips for Tackling Dog SmellsSome dogs have a knack for getting themselves stinky. Check out these tips for cleaning up three particularly offensive smells: skunk, dead fish, and "I don't even want to know what you rolled in."donate.jpgSaving a pregnant Pit Bull and her puppieshttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-a-pregnant-pit-bull-and-her-puppies/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-a-pregnant-pit-bull-and-her-puppies/#commentsFri, 08 Nov 2013 12:00:38 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28814When Utah Animal Adoption Center in Salt Lake City saved a very pregnant Pit Bull from abuse, a Petfinder Foundation grant from Orvis helped pay for the mother’s and her seven puppies’ medical care. “Sunny was extremely malnourished,” Resource Development Director Samantha Johnson tells us. “You could see her ribs.” …

The grant helped the shelter pay for Sunny’s spay as well as her puppies’ spay/neuter surgeries, microchips and vaccinations. Johnson tells us that the organization took in 1,175 animals last year and found homes for 1,139 of them.

“Our ability to take on a pregnant animal, rehabilitate her, and find homes for her puppies is greatly impacted by the funding we received from Petfinder Foundation,” Johnson says.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/11/saving-a-pregnant-pit-bull-and-her-puppies/feed/0Saving-a-pregnant-dog-dog-UT28SunnyWhat Is Canine Distemper?Distemper is a dangerous and highly contagious virus that attacks dogs. Learn more about canine distemper here.What People Foods Can I Feed My Pet?Many pets enjoy eating people food from time to time. Find out what people foods you can feed your pet.donate.jpgNo-fee adoptions help ten lucky Colorado dogshttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/10/no-fee-adoptions-help-ten-lucky-colorado-dogs/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/10/no-fee-adoptions-help-ten-lucky-colorado-dogs/#commentsTue, 29 Oct 2013 11:00:33 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28688Ten patiently waiting pooches from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region — including a pair of bonded Rat Terriers — have been adopted thanks to a grant Orvis and the Petfinder Foundation awarded to the Colorado Springs group. “This grant enabled us to waive adoption fees for ten …

This extra adoption incentive helped recruit one loving home for both Buddy and Lucky, two 5-year-old Rat Terriers who were surrendered when their owner’s health faltered.

“Buddy and Lucky were not only featured as a two-for-one bonded pair — their single adoption fee of $65 was completely waived,” Wayman says. “The pair was happily adopted after a mere five days at the shelter!”

The grant also helped ensure a happy ending for Percy, below, who was brought into HSPPR as a stray with a badly fractured leg. Shelter staff immediately treated Percy’s painful injury and pursued his case as a cruelty investigation, Wayman says.

After Percy spent months recovering in a loving foster home, his foster family signed on to keep him for life. Not only did the grant underwrite Percy’s waived adoption fee, it helped pay for the medical care he needed, Wayman says.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/10/no-fee-adoptions-help-ten-lucky-colorado-dogs/feed/0LUCKY and BuddyBuddy, left, and Lucky were adopted together.PERCY-orvisPercy's foster family adopted him. (Photo credit: HSPPR)donate.jpgShelter saves two dogs from extreme crueltyhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/10/shelter-saves-two-dogs-from-extreme-cruelty/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/10/shelter-saves-two-dogs-from-extreme-cruelty/#commentsSat, 05 Oct 2013 11:00:13 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28582When Greater Charlotte SPCA took in a starving, stray Pit Bull named Adele who was covered in bite wounds, Orvis‘ matching donation program to the Petfinder Foundation helped the group save her life. And for the second year in a row, Orvis is matching donations to the Petfinder Foundation dollar-for-dollar …

And for the second year in a row, Orvis is matching donations to the Petfinder Foundation dollar-for-dollar up to $30,000. The GCSPCA used its Orvis funds to rehabilitate Adele, whose bones were visible when she came to the shelter.

Here’s what GCSPCA president Alex Wilson told us last December:

“Thank you so much for the grant. We are going to use some of the money to help Adele. Adele was found as a stray on the side of the road today. She is terribly thin and covered in bite wounds and several of the punctures in her face are badly infected.

“She currently has a 104-degree temperature from the infection caused by the bite wounds she suffered from … Our vet is actually fostering her because she is going to need quite a bit of care (she will live in his home).

“We do not turn these dogs away when we receive a plea. We always try to figure out how to pay after we say yes. The grant will help us to not worry as much about saying yes.”

Wilson also told us the Orvis grant helped cover the care of another cruelty case, a dog named Ethan. “Ethan was found as a stray, heartworm-positive, with a deep cut on his face and his body was full of shotgun pellets,” she said. “He is still a very sweet and happy-go-lucky guy.

“We have had a lot of medical emergency cases recently and normally we have to be careful about taking on too many at once, but the grant has allowed us to take on more than we normally could. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity.”

Shelter PR Coordinator Sara Gromley tells us: “Here are some photos of our new area we spruced up thanks to your Summer Cooling Grant. The mister system is absolutely deluxe! It goes from scorching hot to tropical cool within seconds of flipping a switch. Staff members enjoy taking breaks by bringing dogs out in the yard and it’s actually pleasant to be outdoors! The dogs love the turf and the shade sail works perfectly. Petfinder Foundation, we love you!”

The yard before the new turf was added (Photo credit: Sara Gromley)

Gromley added, “The dog model is Skylar, #757011, a 5-year-old male Golden Retriever mix. He was found as a stray and has been waiting for a home since early June (which I believe is against the laws of nature, when you’re a Golden Retriever).”

Skylar has since found his perfect family, but many more dogs are waiting at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! Meet them here.

If you haven’t already donated, please give to our Summer Cooling Grant so we can help more pets. The improvements being made to shelters will help pets for many summers to come!

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/08/arizona-dogs-say-thank-you-for-summer-cooling-grant-summersafetytips/feed/0Summer-cooling-grant-dog-AZ15What Dogs Are Prone to Incontinence?Like us, dogs tend to have less bladder control as they age, but some dogs are more prone to urinary incontinence than others. Find out what dogs are the most prone to incontinence here.donate.jpgHow did five ‘hard-to-place’ dogs find homes?https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/08/how-did-five-hard-to-place-dogs-find-homes/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/08/how-did-five-hard-to-place-dogs-find-homes/#commentsSat, 24 Aug 2013 00:12:43 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=28644Peg Zappen from Coulee Region Humane Society in Onalaska, Wis., tells us how their Orvis grant from the Petfinder Foundation helped them find homes for five special-needs dogs: “Several dogs with special needs got boosts toward adoptability. We used grant funds for extra veterinary care that removed obstacles to adoption …

“Several dogs with special needs got boosts toward adoptability. We used grant funds for extra veterinary care that removed obstacles to adoption for these dogs.

“Dart is a 6-year-old male Pug cross who is very social, loves to give kisses and had very bad breath. His teeth were so bad that adopters were reluctant to look at him very seriously. Thanks to you, lucky Dart got his very bad teeth cleaned, a tooth extracted and was neutered. He now has a sweet smile and has been adopted.

“Choodle is a male Poodle/Chihuahua cross who loves to be dressed in sweaters and cuddled but sadly suffered from bad teeth and very bad breath. Choodle also benefited from having his teeth cleaned and needed dental extraction completed and was neutered. He became much more appealing and is now in his forever home.

Choodle

“Wyatt is a male Redbone Coonhound — a common dog in this part of the country — surrendered because he was missing a foot. Wyatt was neutered, which is just what it took to make it easier to place him. He is now living in a Coonhound-loving home.

Wyatt

“Sweet Maggie is an 8-year-old Beagle with too many strikes against her, including epilepsy. Thanks to you, she had seven teeth extracted, improving her prospects for long-term good health. An adopter with experience with an epileptic dog saw her, saw the work that had been done for her and wanted to keep her run of good luck going by taking her home forever.

“Pee Wee is a charming, snuggly Chihuahua mix who was surrendered to us by a man who was devastated because he had accidentally hurt this dog. This gentleman was dog-sitting Pee Wee for a friend and accidentally stepped on Pee Wee’s leg and broke it. The man had dogs of his own and was not accustomed to having a small dog underfoot. He offered to pay for half of the veterinary care for Pee Wee, but the owner said Pee Wee was not worth spending money on and wouldn’t take him back. Our gentleman already had all the dogs he could manage, could not truly afford any vet care, and brought Pee Wee to us.

Maggie

“We turned to the Petfinder Foundation’s Orvis grant funds for help. A local vet x-rayed Pee Wee’s leg, found a fracture that required surgery and performed the surgery for less than $250. A vet tech is providing foster care until Pee Wee can be safely adopted out.

“These five dogs would not be in such good shape, with such good fortune and hope, without you. Thank you so very much.”

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/08/how-did-five-hard-to-place-dogs-find-homes/feed/025589621-1-largeHow Can I Get My Dog to Like Other Dogs?If your dog doesn't seem to like other dogs, read our expert's advice for suggestions to manage or improve her reaction.How Can I Get My Dog to Like Other Dogs?If your dog doesn't seem to like other dogs, read our expert's advice for suggestions to manage or improve her reaction.9 Common Cat Myths DebunkedAre black cats bad luck? Do pregnant women need to give up their cats? Does a cat really purr when he's happy? Learn the truth about these and other common myths about cats!donate.jpgA damaged kitten and dog get second chanceshttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/a-damaged-kitten-and-dog-get-second-chances/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/a-damaged-kitten-and-dog-get-second-chances/#commentsFri, 14 Sep 2012 11:25:46 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=2131You can help us save more pets like Percy and Sport: Donate to the Petfinder Foundation today and Animal Planet will DOUBLE your gift! Thanks to our partnership with Blue Sky Soda, we were able to give grants to shelters including the Marin Humane Society (MHS) in Novato, CA. MHS …

Percy may have been considered “less-adoptable” but he has made his adopted family very happy!

Thanks to our partnership with Blue Sky Soda, we were able to give grants to shelters including the Marin Humane Society (MHS) in Novato, CA. MHS grants manager Helen Cameron told us about two very special pets helped by our grant:

“At MHS, we’re in the happy endings business. Sometimes the path to those smiling conclusions can have unusual, expensive twists and turns. Such was the case with Percy, a kitten who came to us in a group of 13 kittens from an overwhelmed man who was concerned about their health. Percy’s condition was the most complex.”

“One of his legs had been trapped in his twisted umbilical cord during birth, and was stunted and useless. And one of his eyes was too badly damaged to be restored. In addition to neuter surgery, our skilled veterinarians removed both the leg and the eye, allowing Percy to become a happy, healthy, adoptable little fellow. He spent some time in one of our loving volunteer foster homes while he recovered. We estimate that his extensive treatment would have cost more than $1,000 at a private veterinary hospital.

“Percy was next evaluated by a team of experienced MHS behavior and training professionals whose final verdict was ‘all-around great kitten.’ Fate continued to smile on him when a pair of registered veterinary technicians who live in San Francisco saw his adoption listing on our website and drove quickly across the bridge to meet him and take him home.

” ‘Percy is awesome!’ his new guardian says. ‘He is sweet, loving, playful, curious, confident, moderately talkative and super-interactive. We have been looking for a long time for the right cat or kitten who would get along with and be respectful of our 3.5-lb. Chihuahua, and who would be happy as an indoor-only cat, and Percy is the right cat. We couldn’t be happier with him and feel lucky to have found him. We are so grateful this little guy was saved.’ ”

Sport was helped by inmates before being adopted.

Helen also tells us the story of Sport, another pet with severe medical needs who was helped by our grant:

“Found wandering with multiple injuries after being hit by a car, Sport, a young Corgi mix, was rescued by a MHS officer and brought to the shelter, where he received first aid and surgery.

“In spite of multiple, serious injuries, Sport’s plucky personality came through, and he quickly became a favorite among the staff. Since no one came to claim him, he went for foster care to our special program at San Quentin prison.

“Pen Pals pairs animals who need time to recover and/or be rehabilitated with specially selected low-security inmates who provide them with needed attention and encouragement. After about a month, Sport was healthy enough to return to our campus, where his new family found and adopted him.”

Sport and Percy were considered “less adoptable” but now are bringing joy to their new families. Adopt-A-Less Adoptable-Pet Week is September 17-23 this year. Check out the great “less-adoptable” pets still searching for new homes in our Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week gallery. Then check out our survey, resources, and shareable icons on the week’s celebration page. Tweet us @petfinder with a photo of your favorite “less adoptable” pet with the hashtag #ALAPW to get in on the fun!

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/a-damaged-kitten-and-dog-get-second-chances/feed/0My Dog Has Dark Skin Patches — What Is It?It is possible that your dog will randomly develop dark skin patches. Learn what causes these patches and whether or not you need to do something about them.My Dog Has Dark Skin Patches — What Is It?It is possible that your dog will randomly develop dark skin patches. Learn what causes these patches and whether or not you need to do something about them.donate.jpgMichigan shelter pups get a burn-free dog runhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2012 08:30:24 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1750The Humane Society of West Michigan has wonderful, long, spacious dog runs. However, the runs were filled with pea gravel that was burning the dogs’ paw pads when it got hot outside. Our Rescue U volunteers fixed that. We took out five tons of gravel and leveled out the runs …

The Humane Society of West Michigan has wonderful, long, spacious dog runs. However, the runs were filled with pea gravel that was burning the dogs’ paw pads when it got hot outside. Our Rescue U volunteers fixed that.

We took out five tons of gravel and leveled out the runs to get them ready to lay down AstroTurf. Thanks to the generous support of the Animal Rescue Site, we were able to purchase recycled turf from Duke University to install in these runs (it had been used in Duke’s football stadium!).

Installing it was no easy task. The turf was rolled into 75-90 ft. rolls that weighed approximately 600 lbs. each. This meant that we ended up rolling out about 3,000 lbs. of turf in one afternoon. Once it was rolled out we had to fold it and drag it into the pens. It took six of us just to move and place each roll. The edges all had to be pounded into the gravel and the seams epoxied with a nasty, sticky green goop.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/feed/0What Is the Healthiest Cat Food?In this expert Q & A, learn how to find the best food for your cat.Is Wet Cat Food Better Than Dry?Deciding what to feed is tough! Find out if your cat should be eating dry food, wet food or both here!donate.jpgA little training turns a ‘less-adoptable’ dog into a starhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/a-little-training-turns-a-less-adoptable-dog-into-a-star/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/a-little-training-turns-a-less-adoptable-dog-into-a-star/#commentsWed, 22 Aug 2012 10:00:44 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1547Want to help more dogs like this one find forever homes? Help us raise $50,000 for shelter pets, $5 at a time. We have just a few days left to meet our goal — give just $5 today! Munch came in to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in Charlotte, NC, …

Want to help more dogs like this one find forever homes? Help us raise $50,000 for shelter pets, $5 at a time. We have just a few days left to meet our goal — give just $5 today!

Munch came in to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in Charlotte, NC, in November 2010. A 2-month-old stray, his outlook was grim. He was boisterous and hyper, and a big black dog (labeled a Chow Chow mix) to boot. To make matters worse, he had serious health problems: He had severe injuries after being attacked by another dog; he also had mange, and soon developed kennel cough.

But because Charlotte-Mecklenburg is one of four pilot shelters of the Petfinder Foundation’s Train to Adopt (TTA) program, trainer Karen Owens was able to work with Munch after he’d recovered from his injuries and illness. She chose him because she knew that, as an energetic black dog, “he would need all the help he could get.”

As it turned out, Munch was a perfect pupil. “He had lots of energy but really thrived when his energy was channeled into training,” Owens remembers. “He was also one of the first dogs who learned the ‘are you sleepy?’ trick, in which the dog puts his head down between his paws on command. He learned it within two or three short sessions.”

Munch showed off his new trick, as well as “sit” and “down,” at an adoption event at a local mall. He was adopted on the spot, one month to the day after his first Train to Adopt session.

Hunter and Allison snuggle.

Munch has since been renamed Hunter and is now almost two years old. His adoptive mom, Allison Brown, tells us, “He is absolutely the best dog! I am so grateful to Animal Control for nursing him back to health and training him. When I adopted Hunter, he was housetrained as well as crate trained, and he knew how to sit, to wait for his food to be placed on the floor before he went for it, and to do ‘are you sleepy?’ — so cute!”

The fact that Hunter was a Train to Adopt graduate really made the difference in his finding — and staying in — a forever home. In fact, TTA dogs are significantly less likely to be returned to a shelter after they’re adopted. Allison tells us, “Having never had a dog before at all, the training done by Karen at Animal Control made adopting Hunter so much easier for me.”

These days, Hunter is living the good life, going on walks and runs with Allison, enjoying “run-arounds” with his best friend, Rascal, a black Lab mix who lives a few houses away, and playing tug of war with his girlfriend, Emma the pug. “He is a happy, healthy boy,” Allison says, “and I am so thankful that he is a part of my life.”

Whom can Hunter thank for his happiness? Allison, of course, for adopting him, and Karen for training him, and everyone at Charlotte-Mecklenburg for nursing him back to health — but also donors like you, who made his training possible. So give just $5 today. It may not seem like much, but it will make a world of difference to pets like Hunter.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/a-little-training-turns-a-less-adoptable-dog-into-a-star/feed/0ResearchThe Foundation Center is a foundation-supported clearinghouse of information on private funding sources in the field of philanthropy. Learn more about it here.Restraint During a Veterinary ExamThe behavior assessment is important for determination of the amount of restraint that will be necessary to complete a physical exam. Find out more about restraint here.donate.jpg